Archdiocese Settles Abuse Lawsuits With Three Men

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville has reached out-of-court settlements with three men who claimed the church covered up complaints of child sexual abuse.

In their suits, the men alleged they were molested by the Rev. Louis E. Miller in the 1960s.

Lawyers for the archdiocese and the plaintiffs reached the settlements in a one-day mediation Monday, according to Cecelia Price, spokeswoman for the archdiocese. These are the first settlements reached since an onslaught of suits were filed beginning in April. The archdiocese still faces 208 other lawsuits.

The plaintiffs, Paul Fischer, Robert Andrew Natalie and Vincent Paul Natalie all alleged they were abused by Miller at Holy Spirit Church, where the priest served as an associate pastor. They are the only clients in the sex-abuse litigation represented by attorney Joseph L. White.

Miller has been accused of abuse in 81 lawsuits since last year. He also faces criminal charges of molesting 26 children in Jefferson and Oldham counties, including Fischer.

In all, 211 people have sued the archdiocese between April 2002 and this month, alleging abuse by 27 priests, three lay teachers, two religious brothers and a volunteer coach.

White declined to say what the terms of the settlements were, saying his clients requested confidentiality.

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